Fatwa ID: 01742

Answered by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question:

Is the person performing the nikkah of the bride permitted to see her face? If she's in hijab & covering her face, is that person allowed to request to see her face?

 Answer:

For marriage to be valid the condition is that there should be at least two male witnesses or one male and two female witnesses who are required to listen to the words of proposal (Ijab) and acceptance (qabul) clearly. (Hidaya p.306 v.2)

As long as the Imam can hear the offer or acceptance from the woman it is not necessary for him to look at her face at the time of conducting the nikah. It would be appropriate that the girl is fully covered or she sits somewhere where the Imam would not be able to see her face.

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham